SALK AVENUE APARTMENTS PROJECT

The Salk Avenue Apartments Project, approved by the City of Carlsbad on June 3, 2026, involves the development of a multifamily residential complex on a 9.8-acre site located south of Salk Avenue between College Boulevard and El Camino Real. The project consists of 397 residential units, including 59 units restricted to low-income households at 80% Area Median Income to comply with the Fenton Carlsbad Center Specific Plan. The development features a five-story building with a maximum height of 59 feet and a gross area of approximately 416,152 square feet. Amenities include 27,000 square feet of outdoor open space, a swimming pool, fitness facilities, and a five-level parking structure providing 541 spaces, 70 of which are equipped with electric vehicle charging stations. The project is subject to a 22-month construction timeline and requires specific infrastructure improvements, including the replacement of 875 linear feet of sewer pipeline beneath College Boulevard and the repaving of Salk Avenue following utility tie-ins. Environmental compliance was managed through a Final Focused Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, addressing a single disqualifying condition regarding protected species habitat. Key requirements include adherence to the Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan Adjacency Standards to protect a 0.33-acre Diegan coastal sage scrub patch and the approval of a final fire protection plan under the California Fire Code. The project was evaluated for CEQA exemptions under Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131 to streamline the housing development process.